“I really like this character; it’s dignified yet not rigid,” Yan Nangui said.
Shu Chengfeng hummed in agreement, thinking to himself, "I'm glad you like it."
“A few days ago, I heard from the palace servants that some viburnum and hydrangea were transplanted. The hydrangea is quite interesting when it blooms. I have someone transplant a few here for you.”
"Can they be raised in the north?" Yan Nangui asked.
"The palace servants in the flower room take care of it, and it's able to survive. It's just that we missed the blooming season this year, so if we want to see flowers, we'll have to wait until next year."
"So good to me? Has Your Majesty suddenly realized that unless someone else provokes me, I am incredibly obedient and never cause trouble for Your Majesty?" Yan Nangui tilted his head and smiled.
"Do I need a reason to be nice to you?" Shu Chengfeng scoffed.
Yan Nangui smiled and picked up his teacup; he was thirsty anyway.
Soon it was time for dinner, and Shu Chengfeng and Yan Nangui went to bed early after their meal.
The emperor still had a morning court session the next day.
There's no need to pay respects at these times; the geese will fly south, and you'll naturally wake up on your own.
After waking up from my afternoon nap, I went to the Imperial Garden and went straight to the Floating Cloud Pavilion, where I saw Consort Mu and Consort Zhang.
Consort Zhang already lived in Consort Mu's Jade View Palace, so it wasn't surprising that they went in and out together.
"Greetings to Consort Chen." Consort Zhang hurriedly stood up.
"Sister Chen, why did you come here? This is quite a distance," Consort Mu said with a smile.
"The scenery here is beautiful, and I had nothing else to do, so I walked a few more steps." Yan Nangui sat down.
"What a coincidence," Consort Mu said with a smile.
"I'll sit for a bit, then I'll go for a walk elsewhere." Yan Nangui was genuinely impatient with talking to Consort Mu.
What a coincidence! Yan Nangui hadn't even left yet when Ye Xiaoyi arrived.
Her Firefly Pavilion isn't far from here.
She hasn't seen many people lately, but she looks much better now.
"Greetings to all the elder sisters." Ye Xiaoyi smiled, but her smile was hardly attractive.
"No need for formalities," Yan Nangui called out.
Ye Xiaoyi sat down and smiled, "Sister Chenfei's title is really beautiful. Among the sisters in the palace who have titles, Sister Chenfei's is one of the best. It sounds better than those titles like Rong, Liang, Duan, and Jing. It's not frivolous either, and it suits you very well."
"Really? Is that what Ye Xiaoyi truly thinks?" Yan Nangui asked with a smile.
"Of course, although I am not very learned, I still think this character is really good. A good character, a good meaning. Consort Chen is like the morning sun. She should be the rising sun at the hour of Mao (5-7 AM)," Ye Xiaoyi said with a smile.
"Haha, I'm so happy that my sister is so eloquent," Yan Nangui said.
"Since Consort Chen is His Majesty's favorite, everything about her is good." Consort Mu smiled as well.
His Majesty bestowed high titles upon her, but not hers. Was she forgotten? Or is there some other reason?
Since she couldn't ask anyway, she could only sulk in silence.
"I'm going to take a look around and see some roses," Yan Nangui said, getting up.
"I'd like to go with my sister to take a look. Sister Chen, you don't mind, do you?" Ye Xiaoyi asked.
"Okay. Let's go together then," Yan Nangui said with a smile.
After they had walked away, Consort Mu said, "Consort Chen is a woman of good fortune. You probably never would have guessed that she was in the manor, would you?"
Consort Zhang nodded: "Yes, Your Majesty, I am incompetent and have never been favored. How could I have thought of these things?"
"It's a pity about you. You are so beautiful, yet you are not as good as Consort Yi?" Consort Mu shook her head.
"Looks are useless anyway. Whom His Majesty favors is a matter of fate. I am not destined for that. I am quite content to be a Consort now." Although Consort Zhang was not very bold, she was actually quite aware of her situation.
Even if she had any ideas, she would never tell Consort Mu.
On the other side, Yan Nangui stood by a rockery, looking at a cluster of white roses perched on it, and gently fiddled with the petals: "Ye Xiaoyi insisted on coming with me, is there something she wanted to say?"
"Sister Chenfei is wise." Ye Xiaoyi curtsied.
"Then tell me," Yan Nangui said.
"Your Majesty... has been unjustly punished. My life is ruined. But I am truly innocent; I did not do that. I admit, I am not a good person either. Consort Yi's miscarriage was beneficial to me at the time. But... let's not talk about that. Now, there must be someone else scheming in this matter. Her Majesty the Empress wanted to scheme against the Noble Consort, and preferably get rid of Consort Rong's child as well. But how could she have planned all of this so accurately? The Noble Consort's health has deteriorated. Although Physician Fang did not say anything, it seemed as if he had said something. Now it seems that His Majesty also knows something, otherwise why didn't he grant Consort Mu a title?"
"Furthermore, is it really a coincidence that Her Majesty the Empress has suffered two miscarriages in succession?"
Although she entered the palace late, the Empress Dowager would naturally tell her these things.
"Is Ye Xiaoyi trying to say that there might be someone betraying the Empress?" Yan Nangui asked.
"Yes, that's what I think. Now that He Bao has been beaten to death, His Majesty doesn't want to make a big fuss. Su Zhen has also been driven out by the Empress. She'll probably die too. But this matter is still strange," said Ye Xiaoyi.
“I am aware of the strangeness of this matter. But… why are you telling me all this? How can I help you? And why should I help you?” Yan Nangui asked.
Without saying a word, Ye Xiaoyi knelt down.
"I only ask for Your Majesty's protection."
"Protection? You have the Empress Dowager's protection, why do you need my protection?" Yan Nangui laughed.
“Your Majesty, the harem is a place where people are devoured without a trace. I am now useless. The Empress Dowager... will not care about me much. The position of the Noble Consort is secure, and I am even more useless. But I am young and do not want to waste my life until I die. If Your Majesty is willing to help me, I will tell Consort Chen everything I know in the future.”
"Sigh..." Yan Nangui sighed, "It's a pity I really don't want to get involved in your struggles. My background is what it is, His Majesty will always come to visit me. I can't help you. However, as long as you don't provoke me, I certainly won't touch you. You don't need to be so afraid just because your body is damaged."
"It's hard to say what will become of Consort Jing in the future. You're still young. And it's impossible for another member of your Ye family to enter the family." After saying this, Yan Nangui said, "I've seen enough of these roses. I'm leaving now. You can take your time looking at them."
"Yes, deliver it to Consort Chen." Ye Xiaoyi bit her lip.
Once the person had walked away, Ling'er helped her up, saying, "Why did you do this?"
"Why bother? I've suffered this undeserved calamity, and I'm not reconciled. In the entire palace, who is more carefree than Consort Chen? She can't have children and is a second-time bride, yet she lives more comfortably than anyone else. If she were willing to lend me a hand, perhaps I could get through this difficult time."
“But… I’m telling you frankly, don’t be angry. Why does Consort Chen have to get involved in these things?” Ling’er said.
"You don't understand. Of course I know she can't help me for no reason. That's why I told her I was wronged. If she's willing to help me and find out who's behind this, wouldn't that please the Empress Dowager?"
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